Ethnic conflict, one of the most serious and widespread problems in the world today,
can undermine efforts to promote political and economic development, as well as political, economic,
and social justice. It can also lead to violence and open warfare, producing horrifying levels of
death and destruction. Although government policies on ethnic issues often have profound effects on
a country, the subject has been neglected by most scholars and analysts.This volume analyzes
different policies governments have pursued in their efforts to contend with the tensions inherent
in multiethnic societies. The book focuses on Asia and the Pacific, the most populous and
economically vibrant part of the world. The heart of the book is a set of case studies of government
policies in sixteen countries: India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Burma, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore,
Indonesia, the Philippines, China, Australia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Fiji, Vanuatu, and the
Federated States of Micronesia. The studies consider a wide range of political, economic,
educational, linguistic, and cultural policies, and how these policies have evolved over time. Using
a broad comparative perspective to assess the effectiveness of different governmental approaches,
the authors offer policy recommendations that cut across individual countries and regions.